357smallbore
Member
I am looking to get night sights (Trijicon) for my Shield and SD9 VE. How many here replace their sights and go with night sights? I've researched and it seems these will last about 12-14 years.
Anyone change their handgun sights?
- Thread starter 357smallbore
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I just put fiber optic day glows on my 1911 about 20 years ago.
Ohen Cepel
Member
I like a good set of night sights. However, when I think about the amount of money I spent on them over the decades it almost makes me sick.
On a carry gun which you know/love and will stick to carrying, or a night stand gun they are money well spent. Please don't be like me though and stick them on everything as it gets $$$ and they fade with time.
On a carry gun which you know/love and will stick to carrying, or a night stand gun they are money well spent. Please don't be like me though and stick them on everything as it gets $$$ and they fade with time.
Mauser lover
Member
Fiber optic front sights on my comp guns (pick your brand, pick your diameter), my carry gun has TFX Pro sights from Truglo. Don't waste the money upgrading from the TFX to the TFX Pro for the different color "focus ring". I can't see the orange ring very well either day or night. Nice sights otherwise. Nice and big, square and crisp, but the orange ring is worthless.
Ed Ames
Member
I’ve replaced several sights with tritium and never regretted it. That said, I kinda think “night sights” is a misnomer. They help with picking up the sight picture in some light conditions but if it’s dark enough to clearly see the dots it’s generally too dark to shoot. I’d still rather have them than not.
JTQ
Member
This "Civilian Defender" article with some tips from Tom Givens may be helpful https://civiliandefender.com/2016/04/01/low-light-red-sights-and-tom-givens-glock-35/
This article from Frank Proctor on fiber optic sights may be helpful https://www.recoilweb.com/a-few-thoughts-on-fiber-optic-sights-and-carrying-a-light-59795.html
This article from Frank Proctor on fiber optic sights may be helpful https://www.recoilweb.com/a-few-thoughts-on-fiber-optic-sights-and-carrying-a-light-59795.html
JTQ
Member
The other thing to consider is what are you getting with your night sight.
With a front night sight like the Heinie, all you get is a tritium vial in a black post. https://www.heinie.com/1911-classic-style-straight-eight-sight-front.html
On the other hand, a Warren front night sight will put a big white ring around the tritium vial https://dawsonprecision.com/blade-tech-knife-557062/
and Ameriglo, and others, with put a colorful circle or square around the vial https://ameriglo.com/collections/products/glock-pro-glo-tritium-fronts
With a front night sight like the Heinie, all you get is a tritium vial in a black post. https://www.heinie.com/1911-classic-style-straight-eight-sight-front.html
On the other hand, a Warren front night sight will put a big white ring around the tritium vial https://dawsonprecision.com/blade-tech-knife-557062/
and Ameriglo, and others, with put a colorful circle or square around the vial https://ameriglo.com/collections/products/glock-pro-glo-tritium-fronts
I have removed several rear night sights, over the years, that were not good for my eyes. My eyes were, in some cases, seeing the rear tritium dots as a pair of slanted eights. In some cases, the rear dots’ brightness overwhelmed the front dot, making the front sight difficult to see.
Not all three-tritium-dot night sights are bad. My Gen4 G19, delivered in 2013 or 2014, had a good set. The same was true with my Gen4 G17, delivered in 2015. Then, when I bought a G19x, which is only delivered with night sights, I found the night sights to be annoyingly poor performers; it is sad that Glock went cheap on the night sights. Before I decided what to do about these poor sights, on the G19x, I bought a G45 slide, milled for an ACRO P1 optic, with tall all-black iron sights.
I would think that true Trijicon night sights should be good, but would advise getting them ONLY from a reputable Trijicon dealer.
Not all three-tritium-dot night sights are bad. My Gen4 G19, delivered in 2013 or 2014, had a good set. The same was true with my Gen4 G17, delivered in 2015. Then, when I bought a G19x, which is only delivered with night sights, I found the night sights to be annoyingly poor performers; it is sad that Glock went cheap on the night sights. Before I decided what to do about these poor sights, on the G19x, I bought a G45 slide, milled for an ACRO P1 optic, with tall all-black iron sights.
I would think that true Trijicon night sights should be good, but would advise getting them ONLY from a reputable Trijicon dealer.
For many of the night sights available, you can find the front sight available by itself. I only do the front sight. Or, I feel like I only need the front sight. They're usually pretty cheap too. Like 1/3 the cost of a set. What I'm running now is an XS Dot front sight and a stock rear on my Glock 48. It works well for me.
Of course, if you're question is one of whether you should get night sights, I'd say yes. You need to know which way your front sight is pointing.
Of course, if you're question is one of whether you should get night sights, I'd say yes. You need to know which way your front sight is pointing.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I have checked out and tried a few different sights other than factory sights. I have found that I really dislike fiber optic sights if they are only the front sight with a black rear sight. Sights are a very personal preference. What works for someone else may not work for you. I remember several times taking the advice of others that just didn’t work for me. Unfortunately sometimes discovery costs money and time, but it does make things interesting.
I found that I really like the Tru-Glo TFX sights on my Glock 45 snd my Glock 26. They are fiber optic as well as Tritium nights sights front and rear. I like the white circle that surrounds the optic on the front sight. I have left the sights as factory on my Glock 34 for now but that gun is for target shooting. I am debating on whether or not to change them.
I took some photos of the TFX sights on my Glick 45 in different lighting conditions. For ice the poor photography. I took them with my iPhone.
The white ringed front sight
The fiber optics glowing outdoors
The fiber optics indoors in medium light
The sights in the dark with my rail light on
The sights in the dark
As you can see these may help in various lighting situations. I wish I could find similar sightS for a couple of my revolvers.
I found that I really like the Tru-Glo TFX sights on my Glock 45 snd my Glock 26. They are fiber optic as well as Tritium nights sights front and rear. I like the white circle that surrounds the optic on the front sight. I have left the sights as factory on my Glock 34 for now but that gun is for target shooting. I am debating on whether or not to change them.
I took some photos of the TFX sights on my Glick 45 in different lighting conditions. For ice the poor photography. I took them with my iPhone.
The white ringed front sight
The fiber optics glowing outdoors
The fiber optics indoors in medium light
The sights in the dark with my rail light on
The sights in the dark
As you can see these may help in various lighting situations. I wish I could find similar sightS for a couple of my revolvers.
rskent
Member
Sights in the dark.
Why does it seem that the rear dots are so big? Does the front sight get lost in the glow?
Why does it seem that the rear dots are so big? Does the front sight get lost in the glow?
I have had tritium night sights on all of my issued service weapons and carried them for years. On my personal EDC Combat Commander I installed Novak night sights. The front is a green tritium dot, the rear is a green horizontal tritium bar the same length as the rear sight notch. I like these best. Second best are the yellow/rear and green/front on my Wilson CQB.
Ernie Bass
member
Use to buy night sights, then would only get front sight. Now, rely more on Point and shoot skills learned over time.
Rear Night sights are a waste of money and nothing but a distraction. And I am not going to target shoot a bad guy in my house or going to my car etc. I will draw, point and shoot as fast as possible. If you feel you need to take the time to line up both the front and rear sight, that is fine, just not me.
Even for daytime sights, I have blackened out the rear sights on my EDC guns. Just a handicap not to.
Rear Night sights are a waste of money and nothing but a distraction. And I am not going to target shoot a bad guy in my house or going to my car etc. I will draw, point and shoot as fast as possible. If you feel you need to take the time to line up both the front and rear sight, that is fine, just not me.
Even for daytime sights, I have blackened out the rear sights on my EDC guns. Just a handicap not to.
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Mauser lover
Member
It's just because the camera is a little closer to the gun than your eyes would be. No, the front sight doesn't get lost. I have basically the same sights.
I replaced the plastic factory sights on my Glock 42 with the metal LE Glock sights. Ignoring the question of why there are LS sights made for the G42 (I suspect that somewhere in the world, some agency requested it) they are better. The only thing is that the "night" glow isn't very noticeable. If it is dark enough to make out those pale dots, then it is too dark to see, let alone identify, a threat.
When I was a training officer, I loved night sights on the other officer’s handgun. We did a house clearing exercise with a dark house. As TO, I was the bad guy. The night sights would illuminate the Officers face making it easy for me.
Kevin
Kevin
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On my second gen Glock 19, I replaced the sights with TruGlo night sights, green rear and orange front.
WrongHanded
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Tritium has a half life of 12.5 years. So after that time the sights will be half as bright. 12.5 years after that they will be half as bright again. So one quarter as bright as they were originally. They don't just stop working, so only need replacing when you can't easily see them in low light any longer.
And yes, I replace sights on some of my guns. G22 has Dawson Precision with plain rear and tritium front (also wears a weapons light). G23 has Trijicon HDs. P224 has Truglo TFO Pros. I like those best for self defense. The Trijicon HDs second best.
And yes, I replace sights on some of my guns. G22 has Dawson Precision with plain rear and tritium front (also wears a weapons light). G23 has Trijicon HDs. P224 has Truglo TFO Pros. I like those best for self defense. The Trijicon HDs second best.
I have put night sights on carry guns over the years with mixed results. I put mepro's on an M&P 9C and the front sight died within a year. It was a 3 dot type set up and the rear are still decently bright 10 years later so its possible I just banged it into something.
I put trijicons on a kahr k9 for my girlfriend and they have been great but the gun sits in a quick access safe in the house. They are also 3 dot sights. During the day they pretty much just look like plain dot sights.
I just recently put Ameriglo I-dot sights on my M&P shield 9. I am finding that I like this sight picture better than the 3 dots, and the orange ring on the front sight is very bright during the day.
One benefit of night sights over regular irons is if you sit the gun on your nightstand or whatever in the dark you can see exactly where it is even with the lights off. I still carry a flashlight with me to identify targets, but the sights can help you find the gun in the dark much easier.
I put trijicons on a kahr k9 for my girlfriend and they have been great but the gun sits in a quick access safe in the house. They are also 3 dot sights. During the day they pretty much just look like plain dot sights.
I just recently put Ameriglo I-dot sights on my M&P shield 9. I am finding that I like this sight picture better than the 3 dots, and the orange ring on the front sight is very bright during the day.
One benefit of night sights over regular irons is if you sit the gun on your nightstand or whatever in the dark you can see exactly where it is even with the lights off. I still carry a flashlight with me to identify targets, but the sights can help you find the gun in the dark much easier.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
What Mauser Lover said ^^^^
It is so hard to get a good photo of these sights in the dark with an iPhone.
Mauser lover
Member
Those must have been seriously bright sights. Or were you using some sort of light intensification optic? Or are my eyes worse than I thought?
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I did forget to mention that the Tru-Glo TFX sights look fantastic in all lighting situations. My photos above really don’t do them justice.
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